By Madeline Folsom on SwimSwam
The College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association has been announcing various award winners over the course of January, and coaches Eddie Reese, Mark Bernardino, Cyndi Gallagher, and Mike Unger were all various award recipients.
Eddie Reese — Lifetime Achievement Award
On Tuesday, the CSCAA announced that former Texas men’s head coach Eddie Reese would be receiving the 2026 Lifetime Achievement Award.
Reese retired from coaching in 2024 after spending 46 years as the Texas Head Coach saw him win 15 NCAA Division I titles and 45 conference titles, and 44 top 10 finishes at the NCAA Championships.
He coached more than 40 Olympians who won more than 50 Olympic medals, and he built the Texas men’s team into the powerhouse it is today.
Reese also served as the assistant to the U.S. Olympic coaching teams in 1988, 1996, 2000, and 2012.
Courtesy: CSCAA
“There are simply not enough words to capture the impact Eddie Reese has had on our sport,” said Samantha Barany, Executive Director of the CSCAA. “His accomplishments speak for themselves, but it is his approach, his demeanor, loyalty, and kindness that have left a lasting mark on collegiate swimming and diving. Our sport is better because of the time Eddie dedicated to it. On behalf of the CSCAA membership, we are honored and proud to celebrate a legacy that makes him the clear and deserving choice for this recognition.”
The CSCAA Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes individuals whose careers reflect sustained excellence, leadership, and a profound commitment to advancing collegiate swimming and diving. Reese’s body of work — as a coach, mentor, and steward of the sport, embodies those values in every respect.
Mark Bernardino — National Collegiate and Scholastic Trophy
Mark Bernardino was awarded the CSCAA’s highest distinction, the National Collegiate and Scholastic Trophy.
Bernardino was the longest tenured head coach at the University of Virginia, spending 35 years at the helm of the Cavaliers before his retirement in 2013. After that, he moved to South Carolina, where he worked as an associate head coach until 2018 when he moved to NC State to be the associate head coach there.
In 2028, he was inducted into the ISCA Hall of Fame, and in 2023, he was inducted into the ASCA Hall of Fame. Over his career he won ACC Coach of the Year 31 times. He also had 521 dual meet victories and was the head coach of the U.S. team at the 2001 and 2009 World University Games.
courtesy: CSCAA
“Mark Bernardino embodies the very essence of what this award stands for—quiet excellence, selfless leadership, and an unwavering commitment to the sport of swimming,” said Executive Director Samantha Barany. “Known for his no-frills approach and exceptionally high standards, Mark has always focused on developing people first. His direct, honest coaching style has helped countless student-athletes grow into competitors capable of performing at the highest levels, and his influence continues to shape coaches and programs across the sport.”
Throughout his distinguished career, Bernardino has been recognized with numerous accolades and achievements, including being named ACC Swimming Coach of the Year 31 times, the most in conference history. During his 35-year tenure at Virginia, he led the Cavaliers to 27 Atlantic Coast Conference championships and multiple NCAA top-10 national finishes, establishing one of the nation’s most consistent programs. His impact extended to the international stage through significant roles with USA Swimming, including serving as head coach at the World University Games and as an assistant coach for Pan American Games teams. Over the course of his career, Bernardino mentored more than 120 NCAA All-Americans and coached athletes to NCAA championships, NCAA records, and Olympic appearances, achievements that have earned him induction into multiple halls of fame, including the American Swim Coaches Association Hall of Fame and the International Swim Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
Bernardino’s influence extends far beyond wins and championships. His leadership emphasizes the personal growth of coaches, student-athletes and the advancement of swimming as both a competitive and life-enriching pursuit. His impact is further reflected in the respect of his peers, as coaches and colleagues from across the industry voted for him to receive this award.
Cyndi Gallagher — Richard E. Steadman Award
The Richard E. Steadman Award is annually given to a swimming or diving coach at the high school, club, or college level who “has done the most to spread happiness in Coach Steadman’s beloved sport of swimming and diving.
Cyndi Gallagher was the head coach at UCLA for 31 seasons before her retirement in 2019. Before coaching, she swam at UCLA where she was a multi-time All-American and swam at the 1979 World University Games in Mexico City.
She was named the head coach at UCLA in 1988, and in 1996 she put her first swimmer on the United States Olympic Team, Annette Salmeen.
She would go on to help guide two more athletes to the American team with Kim Vanderberg and Amanda Beard coming out of UCLA.
She coached 91 All-Americans to 205 All-American Awards and she served as an assistant coach at the 1997, 2001, 2005, and 2006 World University Games, and the head coach in 2007. She was also on the advisory coaching staff for the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.
Courtesy: CSCAA
Cyndi Gallagher has earned the deep respect of her colleagues across collegiate swimming and diving, and that respect is built on decades of leadership, consistency, and care for the people around her,” said Samantha Barany, Executive Director of the CSCAA. “Her legacy is a lasting one, and even in retirement, Cyndi continues to bring energy, positivity, and purpose to the pool deck. That enduring influence is exactly what the Richard E. Steadman Award is meant to recognize.”
“I was incredibly fortunate to serve alongside Cyndi Gallagher for 20 years at UCLA,” said Tom Stebbins, UCLA head diving coach. “She was an accomplished coach, a thoughtful leader, and a deeply caring teacher who consistently challenged those around her to grow — both in and out of the pool. Cyndi invested countless hours guiding student-athletes toward their individual goals and was equally devoted to her staff and colleagues, always listening, supporting, and mentoring with intention. A true trailblazer for women in coaching, she shared her wisdom generously — all while bringing joy, humor, and a little Bruce Springsteen to the pool deck. It is a tremendous honor to see her recognized with the Richard E. Steadman Award.”
Under Gallagher’s leadership, Bruin student-athletes achieved exceptional competitive and academic success, including 11 Olympians, 21 conference champions, and 91 All-Americans, earning a total of 205 All-America honors during her tenure. She was a two-time Pac-10 Coach of the Year and a model of mentorship and integrity, fostering excellence, teamwork, and personal growth among her student-athletes.
Gallagher’s influence extended well beyond the pool deck. Her legacy includes not only outstanding competitive achievements, but also the development of generations of coaches and athletes who embody the highest values of collegiate athletics , leadership, accountability, gratitude, and service to others.
Mike Unger — Ben Franklin Award
Mike Unger is currently a Senior Advisor at World Aquatics, but he spent more than 28 years on the staff at USA Swimming, and before that, he spent three seasons as an assistant coach at his alma mater, the University of Wisconsin.
The Ben Franklin Award “honors pioneering individuals or organizations whose leadership, innovation, and service advance the integrity of the student athlete experience. Contributions may be technical, social, economic, or demonstrated through sustained leadership that enhances collegiate athletics and the broader sport ecosystem.”
Unger spent many years in various leadership roles at USA Swimming where he helped plan the Olympic Team Trials, the Duel in the Pool, the Pan Pacs, and the FINA World Cup Series from 2003 to 2006.
Courtesy: CSCAA
“Mike Unger’s career reflects a lifetime of dedicated service to swimming,” said CSCAA Executive Director Samantha Barany. “His vision, leadership, and behind-the-scenes commitment to excellence, across multiple organizations and on the global stage, have elevated competitive swimming and expanded opportunities for athletes, coaches, and administrators alike. He truly embodies the spirit of the Ben Franklin Award.”
“Mike Unger has been the backbone of American swimming for the past thirty years. If something important happens in our sport, he has invariably played a role. He is a great leader and innovator, and he cares deeply about our sport, its coaches, and its athletes,” said Dale Neuburger, an internationally respected sports executive, current Treasurer for World Aquatics and former CSCAA Executive Director (1989-1991).
Since 1996, Unger has been deeply involved in swimming’s television and broadcast presence, working closely with NBC Sports and the U.S. Olympic broadcast network. He contributed to television production for seven Olympic Games: Atlanta, Sydney, Athens, Beijing, London, Rio de Janeiro, and Tokyo, helping bring the sport to millions of viewers worldwide. His work earned three Emmy Awards as part of NBC’s Olympic production teams.
Since 2021, Unger has continued his service to the international sport community as a Senior Advisor with World Aquatics (formerly FINA), where he supports strategic competition initiatives and long-term sport development on a global scale.
“This award recognizes individuals whose leadership produces lasting benefits for our entire sport,” Barany added. “Mike’s career is defined by quiet leadership, thoughtful innovation, and an unwavering commitment to serving swimming at every level.”
Unger’s contributions have also been recognized broadly across the sport. In 2023, he received the USA Swimming Award, the organization’s highest honor for behind-the-scenes service, and was also named a recipient of an International Swimming Hall of Fame Aquatic Award, further underscoring his enduring impact on the swimming community.
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